GRIDCo blames recent power outages on gas flow challenges

The Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) says gas flow challenges coupled with test performance operations by the West Africa Gas Pipeline (WAGPCo) disrupted power supply to both commercial and domestic units on Monday, March 16, 2020.

A press statement release by GRIDCo and copied to GhanaWeb stated that, “some plants in the Aboadze enclave experienced gas flow challenges making them unable to generate power.”

It further explained that, a “scheduled performance test on a new regulating and metering gas station in Tema led to limited gas supply to power plants in the Tema enclave”.

The WAGPCo operations coupled with gas flow challenges resulted in prolonged power outages in parts of the country yesterday.

“Subsequently, the gas challenges were resolved, and power was restored to all affected bulk supply points on Tuesday, March 17, 2020,” GRIDCo noted.

The Ghana Grid Company acknowledges its coordinating role in the power delivery value chain and will continue to project transparency and dedication at all times, the power transmission company stated.

Below is the full press release

POWER OUTAGES ON MONDAY MARCH 16, 2020

Tema, Tuesday March 17, 2020 - The Ghana Grid Company wishes to inform the general public that on Monday, March 16, 2020, the West Africa Gas Pipeline (WAGPCo) undertook a scheduled performance test on a new regulating and metering gas station in Tema. This led to limited gas supply to power plants in the Tema enclave. Additionally, some plants in the Aboadze enclave also experienced gas flow challenges; making them unable to generate power. These two incidents led to disruptions in available generation, resulting in prolonged power outages in parts of the country yesterday.

Subsequently, the gas challenges were resolved, and power was restored to all affected bulk supply points on Tuesday, March 17, 2020.

The Ghana Grid Company acknowledges its coordinating role in the power delivery value chain and will continue to project transparency and dedication at all times. We continue to work closely with our stakeholders in the sector including the Volta River Authority (VRA), the IPPs, Electricity Company of Ghana and Northern Distribution Company (NEDCo) to ensure we reflect an atmosphere of coordination and collaboration in order to project a good image for the sector in the eyes of customers and the general public.

We want to urge Ghanaians to take note of our social media platforms @GhGridCo for Twitter and facebook.com/gridcogh for regular updates and information.